African champions Nigeria were denied a place in the final of the men&rsquo;s football tournament at Rio 2016, courtesy of a 2-0 defeat to Germany.<br /><br />An early strike put Germany on course for victory on the day&rsquo;s second semi, Lukas Klostermann powered home in the area.<br /><br />Nils Peterson doubled the European side&rsquo;s lead late in the game.<br /><br />Abia Warriors utility player Ndifreke Effiong replaced suspended Azubuike Okechukwu in Nigeria&rsquo;s starting line up.<br /><br />Umar Aminu kept his place in Nigeria first team after he slotted in for the injured Oghenekaro Etebo in the quarterfinal against Denmark and scored.<br /><br />The crowd at the Arena Corinthians fully supported the African champions and booed every move of the Germans.<br /><br />Germany deservedly went in front nine minutes into the game. Klostermann scored from Maximilian Meyer&rsquo;s low cross.<br /><br />Nigeria got a chance to draw level afterwards but Sadiq Umar failed to take a gift presented by Germany goalie Timo Horn right inside the box. It was a criminal miss on the part of the AS Roma forward.<br /><br />In the 20th minute, Nigeria goalie Emmanuel Daniel made a point-blank save off Lars Bender.<br /><br />With half an hour played, Germany maintained their one-goal lead as first, Sadiq Umar and then Mikel Obi came close to getting an equaliser from inside the box.<br /><br />Daniel then got a hand to a through ball, it was a timely intervention by the goalkeeper to deny the lurking Serge Gnabry.<br /><br />Selke should have scored a second goal for Germany but the close attention of Troost-Ekong put him off from connecting a dangerous low cross from the right home.<br /><br />Nigeria knew they had to step up their game if they were to stand any chance of reaching the Gold medal match against hosts Brazil at the Maracana on Saturday.<br /><br />The Germans continued from where they stopped in the second half, tormenting and running rings round the African team.<br /><br />Gnabry was denied by a fine save by Daniel, who pushed a goal-bound shot for a corner and moments after, Gnabry and Selke combined to open the defence, but still failed to double the lead.<br /><br />Germany attacked again and Ekong cleared the danger for a corner, moments later the lively Gnabry&rsquo;s left-footed shot screamed over the bar.<br /><br />Sadiq drew a foul, and earned Nigeria a free kick in a good position. Mikel&rsquo;s strike crashed against the side netting.<br /><br />The match ended as a contest with one minute left on the clock. Substitute Petersen bagged the goal when he tapped home from an acute angle.<br /><br />Nigeria Starters: Emmanuel Daniel, Shehu Abdullahi, Stanley Amuzie, Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong,Ndifreke Effiong, Usman Mohammed, Mikel Obi, Umar Aminu, Sadiq Umar,Imoh Ezekiel<br /><br />Germany Starters: Horn, Tolijan,Klostermann, Ginter, Suele, S.Bender, Meyer (captain), L. Bender, Selke, Brandt, Gnabry<br /><br />Igho Kingsley<br /><br />Photo Credit : fifa.com